Support John Abraham

by Gareth on July 15, 2010

Potty peer Christopher Monckton has stepped up his campaign to shut down John Abraham’s debunking of one of his talks last year, by asking supporters to flood Abraham’s university with emails demanding it start a disciplinary inquiry. George Monbiot points out the obvious irony in the Guardian today:

Reading these ravings, I’m struck by two thoughts. The first is how frequently climate change deniers resort to demands for censorship or threats of litigation to try to shut down criticism of their views. Martin Durkin has done it, Richard North has done it, Monckton has done it many times before. They claim to want a debate, but as soon as it turns against them they try to stifle it by intimidating their opponents. To me it suggests that these people can give it out, but they can’t take it.

Monckton has since posted at Watts Up WIth That, including this appeal for support:

May I ask your kind readers once more for their help? Would as many of you as possible do what some of you have already been good enough to do? Please contact Father Dennis J. Dease, President of St. Thomas University, and invite him “even at this eleventh hour” to take down Abraham’s talk altogether from the University’s servers, and to instigate a disciplinary inquiry into the Professor’s unprofessional conduct, particularly in the matter of his lies to third parties about what I had said in my talk at Bethel University eight months ago? That would be a real help. [My emphasis, Dease email removed]

In other words, please help me to bully Abraham and the University into caving in to my absurd demands, and take Abraham’s presentation off the web.

In my view, it’s time to stand up to the potty peer’s attempts at intimidation of Abraham and his University. Rather than flood them with email, I propose that anyone who supports the statement below leave a comment with their name, location and academic affiliation (if any). You will need to leave an email, but that will not be published. I will enforce strict moderation. If you want to support Monckton, go elsewhere. I will ensure that Abraham and the university are aware of the thread. Please leave a comment and encourage as many people as possible to join in.

We the undersigned offer unreserved support for John Abraham and St. Thomas University in the matter of complaints made to them by Christopher Monckton. Professor Abraham provided an important public service by showing in detail Monckton’s misrepresentation of the science of climate, and we applaud him for that effort, and St. Thomas University for making his presentation available to the world.

[Update 17/7: Thanks to everyone who has signed up so far — keep them coming! And thanks to all the bloggers and tweeters who have spread the word — Hot Topic’s been seeing record traffic, and this post has been speeding up the chart of our popular posts to number two (with a bullet). John has been reading your comments, and I know appreciates the tremendous support you’ve given him. Dan Moutal of Mind Of Dan has started a Facebook group: Prawngate: Support John Abraham against Monckton’s bullying, so if you’re active on Facebook join and get the word out.]

If one is to be judged by the enemies one keeps, then Dr. Abraham has done very well indeed. Monckton is one of the most arrogant and unpleasant voices on the side of anti-science. Every morning, I thank God he is not on our side.

Abraham’s rebuttal of Monckton is based in science and on scientific argument. For Monckton to appeal to the university as if misconduct is involved is grotesquely misguided, and continues the process of degrading the scientific search for truth. Any institution with any regard for science should and will reject it soundly.

I offer my support to Dr Abraham and St Thomas University and encourage them to stand firm against the aggressive and intimidating anti-science voices that would turn us from the age of enlightenment and reason back return us to the dark ages of dogma and superstition.

Thank you Dr. Abraham, and St Thomas University, for standing up for science. The attempt to force Dr. Abraham’s careful, and entirely accurate work, offline, is nothing but bullying in the absence of reasoned argument by Monckton, who has form in this respect.

Without a doubt, I offer my support of John Abraham.
Monckton does nothing but provide a case for anti-science when he takes these steps in light of his arguments being unable stand up to the rigour of proper scientific reasoning.
Timothy Lubcke
Technical Scientific Officer, Ozflux

In my opinion, universities have a moral duty to support the efforts of their staff in countering misinformation and distortion. Institutions of higher learning and research, more than any other group or organisation, must stand up to attempts at intimidation and bullying from those who are systematically working against the good of society.

For far too long academics have sat on their hands and let the deniers have their way. Thank goodness that people like Dr. John Abraham has the courage to offer valid and accurate rebuttal to their nonsense. I trust that his University will give their full support to him for his actions.

FYI for those unfamilar with the distinctions, the type of legal action Monckton threatens is a near-impossibility in the U.S. His only hope is if Abraham’s University president decides he would rather not endure email harrassment over such an issue.

I fully support the decision of Temple University to leave both versions of the Abraham critique available. Professor Abraham’s criticism on the Monckton talk was through and took a large amount of research to prepare and as such is one of the best take-downs of this well known prevaricator I have seen. As such he and your University have performed a necessary public service. Keep up the good work.

I also would like offer my thanks and support to John Abraham for creating his presentation, and his University for making it available. This attempted intimidation by Christopher Monckton shows that he is not only anti-science, but anti free speech.

Monckton has an almost pathological pattern of harrassing those who criticize him, rather than engaging in intellectual discussion. This solicitation of, for lack of a better word, thugs is typical of his attempts at bullying his betters an can be likened to censorship.

Monckton’s on a par with the 3 Stooges, Benny Hill and the worst of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Suitable only for comic relief. The real travesty is that our Congress considered him an authority on things climate. But all in all, considering our Congress, par for their course.

I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed Professor Abraham’s rigorous demolition of Monckton. Devastation this thorough usually requires a device in the megaton range. The good Professor’s toils and labors will not soon be forgotten by this Yooper.

For a final wish, let Monckton skulk back to the dark recesses whence he came, ne’er to be seen again…so the climate guys can get back to their business of research and educating the public (I have learned much from them over the years)!

Monckton is the liar! John Abraham is an honorable and much needed participant in the effort to bring the truth to the world about Monckton and the fossil-fuel industry that pays Monckton to spread his lies and nonsense.

John Abraham’s work is a vital rebuttal of the misinformation present in Monckton’s arguments. When Monckton responded with personal attacks, Abraham was respectful and professional in his response, devoting his arguments to purely scientific topics. His conduct has been exemplary.

I’ve witnessed Monckton in person, and interacted with him. Reason seems to escape him in favor of his ego. He has no serious education in science, he has consistently corrupted science in all of his arguments, he consistently manipulates graphs and charts to make them look like they represent things that they don’t, yet there are people who still take him seriously. As of the last year, he’s made the most inflammatory statements publicly ever, calling students Nazis. He still insists that lead and DDT and lots of other things are safe for human ingestion, despite scientific findings. He needs to just disappear from people’s radar, because nothing he says is based in fact.

just leaving a comment to support Mr. Abraham. I don’t really have anything substantial to add to the conversation but it does trouble me that the “global warming dissidents” resort to tactics like this, which just affirms my belief that many of them do not really care about freedom of speech, they just want to talk louder than everyone else (even when they complain that their speech is being “repressed” because no one takes them seriously)…

Thank you John Abraham for your excellent rebuttal of a disgraceful mischaracterization of climate change science. Thank you for the presentation. I only wish you could give it on the prime time news worldwide to expose the denial and deceit of Moncton and company. How is it that such persons do not go to jail for their subversion of science and can continue to disparage the scientific community?!?!

The more publicity this generates for *both* Abraham and Monckton the better. The contrasts between the writings of the two couldn’t be more stark, and it takes no scientific expertise to appreciate that Monckton has none.

I’m a philosopher of science and Past President of the Canadian Philosophical Association. Dr. Abraham has produced a patient, professional and fair critique of Christopher Monckton’s claims regarding climate science and global climate change– a great public service and a significant contribution to public discussion of global warming. I recently cited Dr. Abraham’s presentation in my Presidential address to our annual meetings on the topic of denialism. It would be a terrible shame if pressure from allies of Monckton were to persuade the University of St. Thomas to remove Dr. Abraham’s presentation from its web site, and it would be a complete disgrace were University to bow to pressure and ‘investigate’ Dr. Abraham’s completely impeccable behaviour in this matter: I hope and presume that neither of these actions will be seriously considered by the University.

I fully support the statement urging St. Thomas University not to suppress the excellent work by John Abraham. When academics can no longer publish meaningful discussion of scientific subjects, they are then the victims of exactly the kind of suppression of free speech that climate change deniers claim they are themselves victim.

This attempt to frighten a scientist and the institution he works for is absolutely disgraceful, and a clear measure of the type of person making such threats.

Abraham and the University stand for enlightening others to enable all people to understand our planet and how to continue to live with it. Monckton stands for self aggrandisement and self promotion to earn money by being confrontationist and “news”worthy. His attack on Abraham and his attempt to coerce the President of the University only confirm his lack of ethics and morals. Abraham is to be congratulated on being an exemplar of scientific rigor and probity.

One of Monkton’s first points in his document aimed at Abraham was to question his understanding of the traditions of academe (or some similar nonsense) – to then go on to try and bully Abraham and imply legal action is hypocrital and misguided.

It would be a travesty if the “media tart”, “Lord” Christopher Monckton were to affect the shutdown of a serious, scientific based dismemberment of Monckton’s flawed arguments…we need more John Abrahams in this critical global debate that is so skewed by emotive rubbish from the “anti science” brigade.

Sadly the general public are more likely to respond positively to Monckton’s ravings as it is less scary and far less challenging than understanding the nuances of the issue.

I fully support the St. Thomas University and Professor Abraham.
The University should take no notice of those people who are trying to censor Prof Abraham.
His response to a quite insulting diatribe from Monckton was very professional and reflected well on him and the University.

Stephen Latham, MSc. Zoology, UBC, 2002.
I would like to acknowledge the good work that John Abraham has done in exposing the disingenuous efforts of Monckton; I would also like to suggest that a university being bullied by a liar should publicly stand against the bully in support of academic freedom and freedom of speech of its faculty.

I just watched John Abraham’s presentation. It was well balanced, and limited itself to addressing Monckton’s arguments. If it made Monckton look stupid or disingenuous, that is a reflection on Monckton. I know you will ignore any pressure from followers of Monckton.

The fact that anyone can take Monckton seriously is a mystery. He would be purely an object of amusement if it wasn’t for the deeply malicious streak that is evident in his bizarre attacks on John Abraham.

Michael Ashley (Professor, School of Physics, University of New South Wales)

I watched Dr Abrahams ppt presentation; he is to be congratulated on taking such a scholarly approach to the subject and avoiding personal invective (note to Hot Topic – I don’t think references to the ‘potty peer’ are helpful here, whatever you may think of Monckton).

We need the science to be leading the climate change discussions. Well done Abraham for the science based rebuttal of Monckton; well done to the university for having the courage and the conviction to leave the presentation up.

John Abraham is performing a valuable service by exposing Monckton’s lies distortions and cherry picking in a clear and scientific manner. The bluster and personal attacks from Monckton in response are in character, and further expose Monckton to ridicule.

I wish to add my support to the impressive effort of John Abraham to add rationality and integrity to the climate change debate. Voices such as Lord Monckton’s are loud and influential. When the loud voices misrepresent science, it is entirely appropriate to identify the misrepresentation. John Abraham’s presentation was a clear and balanced critique of Lord Monckton’s arguments. I commend the courage and integrity of both Professor Abraham and St. Thomas University for posting Abraham’s presentation.
Richard M. Arnold, Littleton, Colorado

Sunshine is the best disinfectant. Monckton’s bizarre bafflegab reveals a complete lack of substantive response. Keep Digging your Lordship, and thanks to Abraham for providing the shovel.

One effect of this affair had been – it caused me to watch Abraham’s presentation in full, there is nothing there remotely libellous.

I have coined the term WattSpam for the deluge of mail that the University will now be receiving, however Abraham’s presentation MUST remain available to the general public, as an extraordinarily good educational resource.

Prof Abraham’s rebuttal to the Monckton lecture was base on the science and devastatingly thorough. More presentations like John Abraham’s are vital if the non-scientific community is to understand the issues at stake. Professionalism like this reflects well not only on an excellent teacher, but on his employer, St Thomas University. I trust they will not be intimidated by Monckton’s bluster.

Prof. John Abraham did his duty as an academic researcher to search for the truth. His work is commendable and should be highlighted as a shining example for all students to follow – be open to receive the truth from anyone, but always, cut, scrape and examine every fact presented to you and search for the truth yourselves. Dr. Abraham showed how anyone can do that with the application of a brain that we are all endowed with, by sifting through the evidence that is all around us and where necessary, by seeking clarifications from the authors who were cited in the original work. Far from being taken down from the St. Thomas University web site, I would recommend that his presentation be prominently highlighted.

Sailesh Rao, Ph. D., Stanford University, California.

PS: Please remove all derogatory references to Chris Monckton in the text above. It does a disservice to Prof. Abraham’s exemplary professionalism.

Prof Abraham’s rebuttal to the Monckton lecture was based on the science and devastatingly thorough. More presentations like John Abraham’s are vital if the non-scientific community is to understand the issues at stake. This professionalism reflects well not only on an excellent teacher, but on his employer, St Thomas University. I trust they will not be intimidated by Monckton’s bluster.

Monckton misleads his fellow man with arguments from the most selfish side of’ human endeavor. Exposed to the light he can’t outshine his opponent’s debunking his nonsense but only seeks to endarken us all by suppressing the truth. Dr. Abraham should be supported by the University for exposing Monckton for the duplicitous tool he is.

John Abraham is to be congratulated on his careful, rigorous and respectful critique of the unscientific hotchpotch presented by Mr Monckton. Mr Monckton’s present attempt to force censorship of it is merely a sign of his real attitude to academic freedom. If Monckton had a real case he would welcome open debate – instead he demands to be the only voice to be heard. Under no circumstances should you allow this hectoring bully to prevail. Please stand firm in your support for John Abraham.

Abraham’s rebuttals of Monckton’s presentation are good work, and are not libellous. In the interests of academic freedom, freedom of speech, public information, and – maybe not least – standing up to bullies, St Thomas University should continue to support his work and to host his rebuttals on its website.

Monckton deserves to be clearly shown for what he is – and it is not a pretty sight. Thanks for taking the time to rebut his deceptions and misrepresentations. The guy is outrageous.

The more that science stands up to these guys and takes them on in public the better. I would love to see him step out of line enough to be taken on in a libel court and for it to be a very public case.

I have every confidence that any educational institute would base their decisions on the facts so, in this case, I am confident that St. Thomas University (having regard to the scientific facts and rational arguments laid out by Professor Abraham) will ignore the calls for censorship from lynch-mob campaigns initiated by those who are more interested in propaganda and pseudo-science.

Professor Abraham has done a steling job in confronting the claims of Monkton. The vociferousness of the attacks on Abraham & his University stand as testament to this fact. I urge tham both to stand firm against these groundless accusations.

It is unconscionable how much harm Lard Mockton is doing to science and specifically climate science studies. His role as a darling of the denialist movement clearly has financial gains for him, so he has every incentive to fog the issue by any means. Let us not forget that this fine fellow once advocated for all HIV infected persons, these undesirables be forcibly removed from society and quarantined on an island. Not all that different from a certain groups Madagascar plan

Mr Monckton’s unerstanding of libel law appears to be almost as weak as his grasp of science. If you author a piece that represents something as other than what it is, then you have misrepresented it. If you make something up, then you can be said to have fabricated it. Nothing in John Abraham’s piece would be regarded as libellous in any Anglo-Saxon court, even if it were scientifically incorrect. It would all be regarded as fair comment. That includes the expression ‘sleight of hand’.
Mr Monckton’s threats are a blatant attempt to intimidate

I fully support Prof John Abraham, and urge the Congress of the United States to conduct an inquiry into the funding, sponsors, methods, lies, libelous allegations and threats, veiled or otherwise, by these so-called skeptics.

It’s troubling that so often blatant lies and distortions are accepted by the Main Stream Media without any hint of challenge or remorse. Hopefully the Climategate nonsense will galvanise the scientific community to fight back. John Abraham is a hero.

The contrarians asked for a scientific debate. Now they have one, and they’re clamouring to shut it down (in the most ignorant and pompous manner possible if the copied emails at WUWT are any guide). I congratulate St Thomas University and Professor Abraham for standing up to the anti-science brigade. Please ride out this orchestrated email storm in the name of good sense and good science.

John Abraham has my complete support in his quest to unmask deceit and outright lies in the climate change debate. Science needs to be defended against the threat of litigation – truth cannot be silenced.

Bringing threats of libel into a scientific discussion – Monckton is the antithesis of science. Prof. Abraham’s presentation is well within the bounds of normal academic discourse. If it sometimes seems overly strident or even personal, one need not look far for the reason, the inflammatory, accusatory, and conspiracy-minded agitprop to which it is a reply.

Professor Abraham has done sterling service by placing Christopher Monckton’s assertions under careful scrutiny. I fully support his efforts in this matter and condemn any attempt to supress an examination of Lord Monckton’s claims.

Monckton is scared senseless of science. He’s a talker that prefer evidence to stay away from his delusions, thank you very much. He’s part of the scum of the human species, an embarrassment to thinkers everywhere. The only way to battle stupidity is with science, and I’d like to thank John Abraham and St. Thomas University for doing the exactly right thing!

I completely support Dr Abraham’s professional use of academic enquiry in regard to what Christopher Monckton has been saying in public about climate science. I expect that St Thomas University will ignore Monckton’s bullying tactics in trying to stop Dr Abraham doing what he is paid for.

What a ridiculous situation, that this show of support should even be necessary!

I’ve seen the presentations of John Abraham and Christopher Monckton, followed the ensuing responses and the request by Monckton to flood the university with emails demanding censorship and sanctions. I can only hope the university will not accede to such bully tactics.

My heartfelt thanks to John Abraham for putting in so much time and effort into rebutting Monckton’s presentation.

It is cheap and nasty to attempt to suppress Prof Abraham’s excellent work. There was a similar case at UCL, with Prof David Colquhoun, FRS. I hope that St. Thomas University is as robust as UCL was in their defence of a member of their academic community.

John Abraham should be applauded for his significant efforts in exposing the numerous falsehoods in Monckton’s presentation. Since Monckton has no factual basis on which to rebut Abraham’s points it is perhaps not surprising that he has attempted to get them censored, yet it is a despicable, reprehensible and disingenuous act that must not be allowed to succeed.

Lord Monckton is a charlatan and a fraudster with no scientific credibility, capability or qualifications in any way shape or forum.

Professor John Abraham however is, has been, and continues to be a consummate scientific professional despite the appalling antics and behavior of Lord Monckton and his followers.

Professor Abraham is a credit to St Thomas University. It is vitally important that in academia and in a democratic society at large that his rebuttal to the appallingly “Bad Science” produced by Lord Monckton remain in public view for the benefit of all who believe that there should be truth and integrity in science, something that is sadly lacking both in what is produced by Lord Monckton and in his current childish behavior.

I looked at this debunking talk by John Abraham’s it was well laid out, well backed up with peer reviewed literature and is exactly the kind of critique we need when dealing with such obvious charlatans promoting their pseudoscience.

John Abraham, you rock, we need more scientists like yourself to stand up to the massive disinformation campaign be waged by the denialist industry, at the expense of our planet & its inhabitants. Good luck.

I’m sure that the St. Thomas University Academic Community and President Father Dennis Dease are proud of Prof. Abraham and will just ignore Mr. Monkton’s ignorant intimidation. It’s a duty for any Academic and Scientific Institution to defend and protect science and scientists from any threat to the freedom of research and education.

John Abraham used the apparently underhanded methods that one learns in a career of scientific investigation. Monckton wants him disciplined for that. It’s Monckton who needs to learn what the scientific discipline entails. Kudos to John Abraham.

I unreservedly support Dr Abraham’s work. His presentation is entirely polite, and a model of scientific integrity and a great teaching resource on some of the methods to combat fallacious arguments. Monckton’s responses have been the opposite – unscientific, personal attacks. Such attacks need to be stopped wherever they occur in science – if the science is wrong, show it is wrong with science, don’t vindictively attack the person. It is imperative that St Thomas University stand up for the freedom of scientific enquiry.

A free market of ideas is a prerequisite of liberty. Monckton joins a long line of ideologues and petty tyrants who fear the unfettered flow of knowledge and therefore resort to the suppression of those who would oppose them with words. Enough is enough. Cockroaches flee from the light; shine it brightly enough on Monckton and he’ll do the same. Let Abraham speak.

I have been appalled at the very obvious misrepresentations of climate science by Christopher Monckton. Monckton responds to reasoned criticism, such as that by John Abraham, with vicious personal attacks, and is currently clearly making an attack on academic freedom for a political end.

Monckton knows he cannot win on a continued scientific debate. This attempt to silence Prof Abraham is his only recourse to keep people from finding out how ridiculously fraudulent Monckton really is. As a lay person trying to understand the science, I find Prof Abrahams rebuttal a wonderful resource. I hope that you stand against Moncktons misguided mob and keep the presentation available.

I would like to add my support to Dr. Abraham. In an area as contentious as global warming it is essential to determine what is accurate and what is not. He has gone to great lengths using reason and evidence to show how one prominent global warming “skeptic” has systematically misrepresented the science. This is no small contribution considering the importance of global climate change.

I also urge the university to show to the whole world that they will take a firm stand against such intimidation by Viscount Monckton, and against any death threats or other hate speech which may be directed at Prof. Abraham or his defenders, as a result of Monckton’s call-to-arms. This is no time to simply keep quiet.

I support Dr. Abraham. Monckton is knowingly fooling the people of the world about what is likely the greatest threat to humanity in the 21st century and beyond. Monckton’s actions are criminal in my opinion and he should have legal action taken against him.

I hearby give my support for John Abraham. His rebuttal is, in all major instances, correct and concise. Monkton draws the wrong conclusions from questionable sources and dresses it up as science and “proof”. You can see the difference.

I’m a longtime text handler, reader, and editor in the science field, working alongside researchers, and know how this work is done. Do please keep up the good work, and may the university stand beside you 100 percent. I and like-minded people everywhere certainly do.

I would like to commend Professor Abraham for his in-depth, polite and professional rebuttal of any and all points brought forward by Christopher Monckton.

The scientific community needs to step up to the plate to maintain standards of integrity, honesty and carefully argued scientific examination in the field of climate science. Rather than give in to a heavily politicized and polarized debate, scientists ought to be allowed to offer the facts and give their very best professional insights.

Prof. Abraham and St. Thomas University can be proud of this careful and factual presentation, offered to scientists and the general public alike.

Of course, different values and different political choices will come into play when determining a policy response, but open and objective discourse about scientific facts and theory should be unencumbered by these value judgements.

John Abraham is doing exactly what we want our academics to do, clarifying complex topics and distinguishing the wheat from the chaff on an important social issue. Monbiot’s campaign is a transparent attempt to silence someone who has exposed his chaff for what it is. Support John Abraham!

Keep up the good work. The only way that this mis-information can be stopped is by educating the people on what the science is indicating, and how the concepts used in science differ from those used in the everyday world.

It is well past the time when the bullying and outright lies of the climate denialists be dealt with directly. I characterize their actions as sui-genocide: Do they delude themselves they can survive 6C+ with the corporate chum they get, or are they really that lacking in basic reading skills?

Not since the Inquisition have we seen an entire group of people and an entire area of human knowledge and endeavor systematically attacked in this way. It is time to turn the tables. While the hypocritical and clownish Monckton tells lies and half-truths, let us tell full truths to reveal these unethical, immoral people for what they are.

My 2 year-old son’s future is in doubt, along with almost 7 billion others, because of their lies. This is a crime against humanity, and nature itself.

Professor Abraham has done a thorough job of exposing Monckton and St. Thomas University should be proud that they have John Abraham as one of their professors.

It is important to recognize what Christopher Monkton is. We have had previous experience with people who have â€œmental aberrationsâ€ and have manage to gain control of a country. For example: Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. Christopher Monckton would seem to fit the â€œHare Psychopathy Checklistâ€ for â€œaggressive narcissismâ€. I have more on this on my webpage at: http://www.durangobill.com/GwdLiars/GwdLiarsChristopherMonckton.html

It is sad that the pseudo-skeptic community is so ready to cry censorship when they attack the facts, but when the shoe is on the other foot, they want the truth muzzled.

Dr. Abraham’s presentation is excessively polite and PACKED with facts. We need more, not less, like him. If Lord Monckton wants to peddle disinformation, it should at least be possible to get the kind of background Dr. Abraham’s hard work provides. If the truth hurts, that’s no reason to muzzle it.

John Abraham has demonstrated in no uncertain terms the power of critical thinking and reason, employed as they are to systematically demolish so many of the claims made in Christopher Monckton’s presentation. It is an incredible effort that should be appIauded.

I sincerely hope that St. Thomas University will leave Abraham’s detailed rebuttal on their website, for it is of great public benefit to see the contrast presented: on the one hand, Abraham does a forensic investigation of the claims made in Monckton’s presentation, and on the basis of the evidence is led to conclude that the claims are unwarranted; on the other hand, the original claims in Monckton’s presentation are examples of rhetoric and a magician’s tool of mis-direction, superficially appealing and yet without adequate basis in fact – as Abraham clearly establishes.

I strongly support John Abraham and do not want to see his work taken down. It is important that people like him are allowed to point out in detail what is wrong in the deceptive presentations of people like Monckton.

Dr Abrahams’ response to The Viscount Monkton of Brenchley’s ridiculous traveling show is fair and long-overdue; he’s a credit to academia and his university. It would be very welcome if more academics would take the time to communicate their craft with the public.

Jason Pettitt,
Science fan and Open University student
East Anglia, UK.

I found Professor Abraham’s presentation to be credible, fair and polite.
I especailly appreciate the fact that he personally contacted many of tthe authors and presented their opinions directly, rather than his own interpretation.

Thank you Professor Abraham for exposing deciet and defending science.
May other outraged scientists swell your ranks and actively confront the disinformation campaign that is poisoning the public’s understanding of scientific issues.
Keep up the good fight.

Professor Abraham’s presentation was an excellent piece of work, going direct to the source. This intimidation should not be allowed to occur, this shows that this isn’t a scientific debate at all but ideology. Don’t let anti-science win!

We must all support Dr. John Abraham and his university against the bullying pomposity that is Viscount Monckton. There is so much to do especially in the field of agricultural adaption to a difficult future. We must push-back against and identify the interests that pay this creatures expenses and move the debate on. This is really serious! In my field of agriculture we have so much work to do and it wont get financed while the whole field of climate change is regarded as “Controversial”

I fully support Professor Abraham in his careful analysis of Monckton’s misrepresentation of climate science and of the scientific papers Monckton uses misleadingly to support his anti-science views. I also support and applaud St. Thomas University in their efforts to provide a venue for the debunking of Monckton’s falsehoods. I strongly urge St. Thomas University and Professor Abraham to stand firm in the face of Monckton’s and his gang’s attempts at intimidation.

John Abraham’s rebuttal of Lord Moncton is one of the best take-downs of the climate misinformation campaign I’ve seen. Many other misinformers are using the same arguments as Lord Moncton. It is vital to the future of humanity that we spread the truth about the climate dangers facing us. Please don’t let WUWT and Lord Moncton bully the University into taking down Abraham’s presentation.

Abraham’s work is a useful example of how science seeks the truth rather than attempting to shore up preconceived prejudices.

The lesson is that if you want to question anything said in the media about a scientific paper, the best thing to do is to contact the authors! Abraham has demonstrated the merit of this approach effectively.

All right thinking people should support Professor John Abraham for the work he has done. Contrasted with the scurrilous behaviour of Christopher Monckton; the powers that be at St. Thomas University should have no difficulty in dismissing Monckton’s appeal.

Abrahamâ€™s rebuttal of Monckton is civil, dispassionate and technically robust. He has provided a necessary counter point to the Monckton presentation. He deserves credit for putting in the effort required. The university should be thanked for providing the environment where such free academic inquiry can take place.

I am not a climate scientist, but after viewing John Abraham’s presentation, it is clear that he has presented a careful debunking of the “science” in Monckton’s talk by going back to the actual source of the relevant information (that Monckton has misrepresented) in every case (ie, the scientific paper and/or the author(s) of the paper).

I commend Dr. Abraham for taking the time and effort to address what can only be characterized as “fringe” views on climate science (that Monckton is propagating)

It is very telling that Monckton is now using the threat of legal action to squelch the debate. It is, in fact, a tacit admission that he simply can not win by arguing the science.

Monckton knows he can not win the scientific argument — because that would mean disproving, not Abraham, but all the climate scientists that Abraham has referenced and quoted in his presentation.

As a matter of fact, to “win” the argument in this case, Monckton would have to disprove what the vast majority of the world’s climate scientists have been saying for some time now (in scientific journals, IPCC reports, testimony before Congress, etc) : that global warming is real, that humans are largely responsible for it and that it represents a significant threat to future (and possibly even current) generations.

No surprise that Monckton would attempt, therefore, to put an end to the debate by “disappearing” the debate entirely through threats of legal action.

Monckton’s legal threats are just the latest example of the disgusting, anti-democratic intimidation of scientists that we have witnessed over the past few years and if it is allowed to succeed, it will set a very bad precedent indeed.

Laurence Jewett
Connecticut
(BS Physics)

PS It may seem a small thing, but it’s actually “University of St. Thomas (MN)”, NOT “St. Thomas University (MN)” as Monckton incorrectly refers to it . That would seem to be a perfect example of just how careless Monckton is with his “facts”.

ALL scientists, and especially climate scientists, need to strongly
and unequivocally support Abraham. This is by no means the only personal
attack and harassment that Monckton has launched against responsible scientific discourse and it should not be tolerated.
Dr. Ray Weymann
Carnegie Observatories Staff Member Emeritus

John Abraham’s presentation of some of Christopher Monckton’s misrepresentations was very fair. Abraham took care to avoid both character assasination and insult and it would be a travesty if his University censored him by removing his presentation due to pressure from Monckton. Interested parties should be allowed to here both Abraham’s and Monckton’s arguments, and then judge for themselves.

I am grateful to Professor Abraham for having the patience to go through Mr. Monckton’s talk and for carefully pointing out what’s wrong with it. Attacking him for it is unbecoming even of a fake peer.
Wojciech Setlak
Warsaw, Poland

Not only do I support Professor Abraham but wish to suggest that you take a most aggressive stand against Lord Monckton and company.

There is furthermore no reason to have Professor Abraham alter or water down his presentation. IN FACT I WOULD URGE HIM TO RE-POST THE VIDEOS HE HAD POSTED ON YOU TUBE.

I would further suggest that your university considers forming alliances with other institutions to prepare for, defend themselves from and counterattack the Oil Companies and their front groups who are responsible for initiating these attacks against Science and Humanity itself vis a vis Shills like Lord Monckton.

While these counterattacks would incorporate reasoned rebuttals they would have to consist of exposes, condemnations of Oil Companies and boycott of their products, etc..

Please take a favorite saying of mine to heart. You don’t dance with Psychopaths nor do you reason with Psychotics. Lord Monckton is, in my opinion both, but of much more importance, those who support him in high places are of the first variety. In my personal experience, you never, ever underestimate psychopaths.

In summation, I give my support for John Abraham and cannot overstress the need for taking an aggressive stand against Lord Monckton’s deep pockets.

When I grew up, they disbelieved continental drift. Of course now it’s accepted. CO2 is the Earth’s thermostat. Monckton’s misrepresentations are bunk. Please support Prof. Abraham and allow his presentation to stay put.

Dr. Abraham has my full support. His presentation is not libelous, it’s a careful debunking of the lies and disinformation Lord Monckton has promulgated on this pressing issue. Do not allow Lord Monckton or others to pressure or intimidate your university to limit academic freedoms.

John Abraham provided a calmly delivered rebuttal of Christopher Monckton’s peculiar brand of pseudo-science which is built on the premise that bullshit baffles brains.

The tone of Monckton’s latest response is nothing short of bullying of the type normally seen in the school playground. Monckton’s amazing diatribe of questions is, to use an expression with which Monckton will be familiar, ‘all stuff’.

I write in support of John Abraham and sincerely hope that St. Thomas University resist this particularly odious example of bullying an example which makes me ashamed of having the same country of origin as Monckton.

I’d like to thank Professor Abraham for his rebuttal of Christopher Monckton’s public presentation about the lack of scientific proof of climate change. Professor Abraham maintains a professional and respectful tone throughout it. It is clear that it isnâ€™t a personal attack on Monckton as a person. Rather Abraham, as a scientist, is responding to the scientific assertions that Monckton makes in his public presentations. What comes through in Professor Abrahamâ€™s presentation is that the assertions that Monckton makes do not meet the widely accepted standards of science. Thank you, Mr. Abraham!

Professor John Abraham is to be commended for his refuting of the many errors and instances of misinformation and misrepresentation in Christopher Monckton’s presentations on climate change. St. Thomas University must not allow Monckton to stifle academic freedom.

Too few people are aware of the acute and severe danger of climate and fewer are aware of the anti-scientific propaganda machine that tries to keep the public inactive.
Since global greenhouse gas emissions are nowhere near dropping, one can only conclude that the disinformation campaign has been very succesful during the past twenty years.
Lord Mockton continues to lend his voice to those who want to see no action to stop climate change and he does it brilliantly. He is a very good speaker and is obviously well-informed of the science. It seems therefore very unlikely that he doesn’t know what is really going on. In other words: he very likely knows that climate change is the greatest disaster human kind has ever faced and he works relentlessly to STOP governments and citizens from trying to avert its worst consequences.
Anyone who cynically engages in the denialist movement commits the gravest of crimes against humanity and against life. As a young person, I am convinced that members of my generation, as soon as they come to understand what these people have knowingly caused, will not forgive them.
I give my full support to anyone who works to combat the forces of disinformation that have now launched an unprecented, desperate, below-the-belt attack on scientists, the academic world and civil society.
No University should ever give in to public pressure to suppress any information that holds up to certain academic standards and especially not when it’s related to human-caused global climate change.

I urge St. Thomas University to stand strongly behind Professor Abraham in this controversy. In the greatest tradition of academics and teaching, Professor Abraham has given a large amount of his time to using his knowledge and skills to the service of public education and understanding of a very important issue. It is essential that his institution stand behind him as he comes under attack from those who would like his thoughtful and cogent critiques removed from public discourse.

Your strong support for Dr. Abraham will reflect very well on St. Thomas University and will help emphasize the vital concept that in the public debate that there those who should be considered more credible than others in understanding climate science.

Lord Monckton’s cheap bullying tactics have no place in either academia or science. John Abraham has presented a carefully reasoned and thoroughly researched debunking of Monckton’s rhetorical excesses and fact-free declarations that deserves the widest possible audience. I encourage St. Thomas to keep these presentations up and available.

I strongly support John Abraham. His presentation is an extremely valuable public service. At this juncture in history, the education of the American public on the facts of climate change, especially debunking this type of misinformation, is the most important service we in academia can provide to our nation and our world.
-Dr. Gary Witt
Assistant Professor of Statistics
Temple University

Thank God we have people like Abraham standing for the the science on this topic! Monkton and other deniers should be prosecuted for the disinformation they spread. Climate Change unchecked could very well be the end of humanity and the continued disinformation and interference in addressing it should be prosecutable.

I have gone through both presentations and the professionalism and accuracy of John Abraham is far superior to Christopher Monckton. I encourage watching and fact checking both presentations personally to show the truth in Abrahams points. I’m a Mechanical Engineer studying Energy and Public Policy at the University of Maryland.

I and many others support Dr. Abraham and are shocked at bully tactics. If it weren’t for Dr. Abraham I myself would never have known to what extent Christopher Monckton had just flat out lied about what reputable scientific studies show about the dire direction of earth’s climate. It’s rare for an academic to take the time to do the tedious work to set the record straight, so Dr. Abraham’s work needs to be disseminated and available for all.

I’ll confess I have no formal academic association. However, I have at least been exposed to the requisites of scientific presentation and of scientific rigor. I applaud Professor Abraham’s presentation (and his subsequent responses to the ad hominem attacks on him) as excellent examples of both.

Plus they bring a clarity and comprehensibility to those of out out of the main flood of the scientific discourse.

Maintaining integrity of scientific information is vital. Pointing out (with appropriate and detailed examples) failure of such integrity is laudable.

If anything, rather than take down Professor Abraham’s presentation, I think it should be heavily promoted. It reflects well on the University and on the professor.

Lord Monckton has often asked for those who disagree to debate him. John Abraham chose to do this in writing rather than in front of an audience. Prof Abrahams is to be congratulated on a professional and well researched rebuttal to the swagger, bluster, and misleading pseudoscientific claims and distortions in Lord Monckton’s presentations. Kudos to the University for supporting science over rhetoric!

Lord Monckton has often asked for those who disagree to debate him. John Abraham chose to do this in writing rather than in front of an audience. Prof Abraham is to be congratulated on a professional and well researched rebuttal to the swagger, bluster, and misleading pseudoscientific claims and distortions in Lord Monckton’s presentations. Kudos to the University for supporting science over rhetoric!

Go get em, John Abraham. Out here in the Russian Ural Mountains, Ekaterinburg, I have shared the professor’s presentation here and back to my newspaper, family in Australia and Oregon, and friends in Estes Park, Colorado. And, told Abraham what I have done

My only hope for Monckton is he has good health care so he can eventually see how wrong he has been.

Dr. Abraham’s work is well known, and respected throughout the world. Monckton is known as either quite unknowledgable on the subject of climate change, or as having a “hidden agenda”, or both. We have the same mentality going on right now in the Unites States, casting doubts on flouridation of water and children receiving immunizations against childhood diseases. I fully support the work of Dr. Abraham and St. Thomas University. Education MUST win against ignorance!

Full marks to Professor Abrahams, and to the University. The detailed analysis of Mr. Monckton’s mis-representations of published literature was marvellous to watch. In particular I greatly appreciated your very dignified and civil tone. Bravo.

Professor Abraham has done an immense service to the scientific community and to all those interested in climate science. His work should be proudly displayed for all to see, not censored as Monckton would like to do. Please stand by Professor Abraham and do not cave in to Monckton’s outrageous demands.

A brief expression of Sympathy is in order, for the plight of the climate deniers. Deception and lying are unavoidable, because the facts are against them.
Christopher Monckton’s practice of such blogosphere ethics in academe has been effectively challenged, by John Abraham.
Monckton’s weird and wild escalation warrants continued attention and debunking elsewhere.

Kudos to Mr Abraham for standing his ground and standing up for true science. It’s funny in a way how Monckton and his type flock to ‘freedom of speech’ to defend their attacks, but when things turn against them, they want censorship. I guess that is what happens when you have no true solid ground to stand on for defense.

I support John Abraham, and deplore Christopher Monckton’s absurd demand that Dr. Abraham’s presentation be suppressed by the St. Thomas University. I believe it is the duty of this and any other University to foster open inquiry and debate. If Lord Monckton can’t withstand the bright light of scrutiny, he should keep his ill-mannered and uninformed mouth shut.

John Abraham is correct in his observations on Mockton’s presentation. Any person with any knowledge of climate change will easily see the flaws in Mockton’s premise. If anyone should remove their presentation and be called in front of a review board it is Mockton.

Dr. JÃ¶rg Zimmermann
Quality manager
Deutscher Wetterdienst
Offenbach, Germany
I personally support Prof. John Abraham. This is a private statement, which may not represent the position of the Deutscher Wetterdienst. However, the Deutscher Wetterdienst has a clear position that climate change is happening, that its effects are observable, that it is mainly anthropogenic and that during this century it will lead to strong effects with possible damages to agricultural productivity and public and private property: http://www.dwd.de/klimawandel

I wholeheartedly support Abraham. Monckton’s complaints are weak and irrelevant – the university has no standing, credibility or respect to gain from caving in to Monckton. It would be intellectual and academic suicide to give in to such bullying.

I fully support John Abraham’s debunking of Monckton’s presentation. Professor Abraham was both respectful and accurate in his carefully researched presentation. Yes, I watched it from start to finish.
We need more people like Abraham.

John Abraham’s presentation was remarkably informative and succinct and offered a stark contrast to lord Moncton’s invective, bullying and outright fabrications. It is our good fortune to have such men and he deserves our thanks.

Monckton, Lord of what? The Flies?
The flies circling the rotting carcass of his own appalling campaign of lies and scientific illiteracy.
Nice work and very generous too, John Abraham.
I can’t believe we still need to debate this.

I sincerely hope that Father Dease and others at the University of St. Thomas ignore the pleas of right wing extremists, egged on by The Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, to censor John Abraham’s rebuttal of Benchley’s absurd comments regarding climate change. Freedom of speech should not be abridged because those who attack others (Benchley) are offended when solid counterarguments are offered, as did John Abraham. I fully support Mr. Abraham’s right to refute the non-scientific and belligerent comments made by the misguided Viscount and encourage the University to do the same.

I commend Dr. Abraham for his thorough and systematic refutation of Mocktonâ€™s denialist pap. Diehard anti-warmers are quite obviously a lost cause. Nonetheless, critical-thinking climate change skeptics have now been presented with persuasive evidence for the deceit inherent in Mocktonâ€™s line of argumentation. Once planted, this seed of doubt (about the veracity of denialist claims in general) will hopefully continue to flourish in the abundance of bovine fecal matter that his Lordship and his cronies will desperately spread in his defense.

I appreciate so much the courage with which John Abraham is fighting against ignorance in the debate about global climate change. Whether we call it ‘warming’ or not, even average people around the globe can find articles showing the truth of the matter; that the sea is rising and the ice is melting.

Lord Mockton’s attempts to stymie free speech and public discourse about climate change science are utterly repugnant, amounting to little more than frivolous publicity seeking. Prof Abraham has my full support.

I am very grateful for Prof. Abraham’s presentation, which I have found very helpful, and also encouraging, in engaging with skeptics. In any case, it was carefully done, and an entirely defensible act of scholarship, for which he should NOT be censured, but rather thanked.

I support John Abraham and St. Thomas University in the matter of complaints made to them by Christopher Monckton. I applaud him for that effort, and St. Thomas University for making his presentation available to the world.

Monckton is turning his back on the normal process of scientific enquiry in seeking to gag his critics. This is not how responsible scientists behave. It is eerily similar though, to the way that hucksters and charlatans behave. This whole business bears close resemblance to the Simon Singh libel case in the UK. In that case, quacks seeking to silence dissent were routed; I hope that will be repeated here.

I fully support Prof. Abraham and I encourage St. Thomas University to support open enquiry by resisting this attack upon free-speech.

I support John Abraham. Although i feel strongly that all voices on subjects should be heard and that even Prince Monckton does have a right to his opinion, regardless how painfully wrong and out of touch it is. The use of gagging techniques such as the threat of litigation, Censorship and variety of suppression threats do not progress the interests of scientific knowledge or our position on this earth.

I support the truth and the science behind it. So I cannot abide the FUD and carbon collaborator Moncton and I will hold him personally responsible for the damage to our younger generations his shilling results in.

I encourage Christopher Monckton to keep talking and keep exposing himself in public. I also encourage him to breathe deeply.

I support the general set of ideas proposed and expressed by Dr. John Abraham. I strongly disapprove of the comments, ideas, and any other form of information spoken, written, or expressed by Mr. Monckton.

We the undersigned offer unreserved support for John Abraham and St. Thomas University in the matter of complaints made to them by Christopher Monckton. Professor Abraham provided an important public service by showing in detail Moncktonâ€™s misrepresentation of the science of climate, and we applaud him for that effort, and St. Thomas University for making his presentation available to the world.

I fully support John Abraham’s work in getting the facts out on Global Warming. We need to know about Global Warming and other consequences of our abuse of the planet so that we can quickly reverse the destructive course that we have set for ourselves.

It would be a travesty and a blot on St. Thomas to participate in letting science deniers bully scientists. If action is taken against Prof. Abraham, it is St. Thomas’ reputation that will be blackened.

Thank you, Prof. Abraham, for maintaining the standards of academic integrity needed when dealing with such drivel as Monckton dishes out. It’s not easy to play by the rules when others are changing them by the minute, well done.

Scientific debate relies entirely on free debate between academics and those interested in the academic project. Respectable intellectuals do not run to a judge to have their opponents silenced. Lord Monckton risks joining other big names who have recently made themselves look foolish by resorting to the libel laws.

I have watched Dr. Abraham’s presentation and I find it a model of professional restraint combined with intellectual assiduousness. Given Mr. Monkton’s scurrilous personal attacks on others, the fact that he would attack so strictly correct a presentation is deeply troubling.

I say we don’t just sign petitions – let’s make sure each and every one of these scientists knows they and their work is supported and appreciated. Write to universities and scientists to voice your support!

Originally from MN and have many friends at St. Thomas who support Abraham and love the work he does as their professor. Using facts and research is what science is all about, not hearsay, half-truths, and mis-represented data.

I fully support John Abraham, congratulate him on his painstaking, exhaustive and highly revealing work, and hope he continues to publicly deconstruct the more far-fetched-but-influential statements of some so-called ‘sceptics’.

John Abraham has done us all a tremendous service and I am very grateful to him.

I don’t know why Monckton continually tries to shout down real scientists with real science degrees. I am a communicator – like Monckton- but I don’t pretend to be anything more. We can’t all be experts in everything- so I educate myself as much as I can and learn from real experts.

If you want to learn how to write a press release, swing by my office- or Monckton’s- but if you want to learn about climate science talk to a climate scientist.

Monckton is a fraud and a liar and a kook. He calls himself lord but is not and never has been a member of the House of Lords. He says he was an advisor to Margaret Thatcher but there is no record of his service. He is supported by ExxonMobile and the Koch Brothers. He is a disgrace to scientists and Britishers everywhere.

This is unbelievable. And they dare call themselves “skeptics”, when all they are is an unabashed lynch mob. They pretend to be asking for open debate, yet all their arguments are lies and misinterpretations, and when called out on it, they resort to intimidation. Disgusting.

I thank Dr. Abraham for putting in the huge effort of showing Monkton’s misleading claims for what they are. Hopefully, his university will honour him for his scientific excellence and not be intimidated by Monkton’s bullying.

Dr. Abraham – I have placed photos of yourself besides that of Lord Monckton and nine out of ten crustaceans agreed that you look least like a prawn. Everyone here found your presentation debating the viscount both informative and polite – Thank You!

The desire of His Excellency, The Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, to blunt criticism of his Lordship and his Lordship’s public statements through legal intimidation and public bullying is a despicable action of an aristocrat more comfortable before a legal bar than in the halls of academic debate and he should be resisted by all men who honor scientific freedom and free speech.

I fully support Abraham and the University in their efforts to shine light on “Lord” Monckton’s manipulations of the available science and the cases of fabricating of his own science to support his claims.

As a former student at the University of St. Thomas, I am proud to know the University has the courage and integrity to stand up for the truth.

Monckton clearly has no one but himself to blame for his poor reputation.

John Abraham has done a truly great job he has taken the argument, which are sometimes so difficult to understand because of their technical language and distilled it down to common sense so that pretty much anybody can understand it. He, by providing supporting documentation, has allowed for the debate to move from the emotive to the factual and shown CM to be what he really is.

I am delighted to add my name as a show of support for John Abraham. All the best for he and the University of St Thomas to prevail against Monkton’s shallow and vindictive attempt to stifle Abraham’s legitimate critique of his quackery.

I support John Abraham without reservation in this dispute with Lord Monckton. I have exchanged some correspondence with John Abraham, and believe that his review of earlier work by Lord Monckton adheres to the best practices of peer review. I believe that the allegations of Lord Monckton on this matter are without merit.

I offer unreserved support for John Abraham and St. Thomas University in the matter of complaints made to them by Christopher Monckton. Professor Abraham provided an important public service by showing in detail Moncktonâ€™s misrepresentation of the science of climate, and I applaud him for that effort, and St. Thomas University for making his presentation available to the world.

Monckton is so obviously speaking nonsense that anyone with the lease bit of knowledge of climate science should recognize it. Nevertheless, I was excited when I first encountered Dr. Abraham’s thorough debunking of one of Monckton’s spiels and immediately linked it to a discussion site I participate in. Thank you Dr. Abraham and thank you St. Thomas University for forcefully protecting the principle of academic freedom!

Prof Abraham and the university should never give in to bully-tactics from this unscientific attack by Mr Monckton. This attempted censoring of science goes against everything real scientists stand for. Way to go John, and keep up the great work.

I support Dr. Abraham in his valiant effort to detail just how little truth there is in Monckton’s words. The smearing of an opponent and the claim of libel is the last resort of the desperate, and in this debate Monckton has turned to them first, without any attempt at contrition for his misrepresentation of scientific endeavour. Monckton and others are doing immense damage by distorting the public perception of climate science and individuals like Dr. Abraham should be applauded and supported every step of the way, not persecuted in the manner that Monckton is forced to resort to in his lack of a compelling retort.

I am a mature student taking a BSc Honours degree part time in the UK with the Open University in Environmental Studies. I have been doing so since 2000 and have learned to distinguish between good science and the brown sticky stuff quite early on in my education.
Professor John Abraham is one of those stalwarts who brings more credibility to his university through telling the truth and demonstrating the true skills of teaching that are needed by the few to educate the many. If we are to really do what is right with regards climate change then we need to have people like John who are generous with their time and knowledge.
What is more John treats everyone as equal and by doing so has earned my respect.
If I was the head of teaching staff at St Thomas University I would highly commend John for his professionalism and make sure the leading papers knew as well.
Well done John. Monckton is a fool who resorts to cheap shots to drum up support where he can gain none through legitimate means and real science.

For the University to surrender to Monckton’s attempted bullying would be to endorse the approach to ‘research’ of a non-climate-scientist whose deep learning in this matter can be fittingly epitomised by his claim that in medieval times “[t]here was little ice at the North Pole: a Chinese naval squadron sailed right round the Arctic in 1421 and found none.”

Monckton seems to be among an increasing number of self-appointed reactionary pundits who confuse what they sanctify in stentorian tones as their ‘freedom of speech’ with what their actions show they really want: immunity from the consequences of that speech.

If a person sets themselves up as a commentator on climate change by peddling this kind of delirious, febrile gibberish, then they are laying themselves open to a thorough investigation of their claims.

This is precisely what Prof Abraham has done, and he has done it superbly, If only his scrupulously detailed refutation had the same kind of publicity as Monckton’s dreams of non-existent Chinese naval expeditions to supposedly ice-free North Poles. Apparently Monckton believes that freedom of speech should only apply to himself rather than to Prof Abraham.

Prof Abraham has done the public and his institution a great service by doing it. I call on the university to show its public support for Prof Abraham in every way it can.

John Abraham’s respectful, thoroughly researched, clear rebuttal must be defended and promoted. Universities are a bastion of peer reviewed science, which Christopher Monckton chooses to ignore. Lord Monckton’s verbal gymnastics reveal an impressive intellect applied to demagoguery and ideology rather than a genuine effort to understand the methods scientist use to refine and explain their unbiased understanding of the physical world. Although the effectiveness of fact checking is debatable in an increasingly unreasonable political environment, but we must all keep working at it and stand with people like Professor Abraham.

Loonies like Monckton keep loading up this handbasket to hell with great boulders, so we will only fall faster. If they’d look around they’d see we’re all in it together. Then might they ask themselves what if they’re wrong and we’re right? That the ‘we’ I speak of includes the finest climate scientists on the planet cannot, it seems, dent their pride and absolute conviction of superior intelligence. With the kind of hubris that makes for perfect tragedy they pursue their course, dragging us with them. So, even if only the most powerful few of the species are maladaptive, all must suffer the consequences equally. For what? To protect their bloated egos and vested interest? We must staunchly support Prof. Abraham and all who have sought the truth and follow their conviction that it must be shared and acted upon.

I am appalled that Monckton, who’s views on global warming cannot bear scrutiny, would attempt to silence a real scientist who has obviously spent real time and effort to validate his list of the litany of errors contained in Moncktons ramblings.

Further, I urge that Prof. Abraham be rewarded and all complaints against him be consigned to the rubbish bin.

The University must not allow Monckton’s illegitimate crusade to prevail.. Continue to support John Abraham’s careful research and allow his presentation to remain on university servers as a fine example of academic freedom.

Having reviewed a number of these comments, I find there is little to add, except to add my name to those who fully support Professor Abraham’s superb rebuttal of the Potty Peer’s inanities. I trust Dr. Abraham will have the full support of St. Thomas U.

This contrasts with my attempts at getting Ian Plimer disciplined for lying on national television in Australian. Melbourne University could do nothing because he’s emeritus, while Adelaide was unwilling to take action because they regarded his activities as normal.

I don’t know if I was entirely fair trying to shut him up this way. But it seems to me there is a massive asymmetry in all this. The stolen CRU emails have ultimately revealed at most trivial wrong-doing and there have been at least FOUR investigations of the major players. When are we going to see ONE investigation of what’s behind the obviously dishonest denial campaign?

There is very detailed discussions of all of the science relative to Dr. Abraham’s rebuttal of Monckton. I fully support Dr. Abraham and all other scientists and their efforts to clarify false premises regarding research into climate change.

John Abraham’s piece was accurate, professionally executed, and without slander. John Abraham is a credit to St. Thomas University. I hope St. Thomas will continue to post his expose and support his efforts to clarify the popular “debate” about climate science.

Dr. Abrahams and St. Thomas University have presented clear facts rebutting the lies presented by Mr. Monckton. The public has a right to know what Dr. Abrahams and St. Thomas University have to say. The attempts by the GW denialist community to distort facts and to defame and silence scientists should be rejected.

I wholly support Dr. Abraham’s conclusions regarding Christopher Monckton’s claims. The scale of Lord Monckton’s response to this matter is entirely unwarranted and demonstrates his inability to respond on scientific grounds. He consistently distorts science, spreads misinformation, and vehemently attacks anyone who criticizes his statements. As an educator and a scientist, I find this reprehensible.

It is very important that the public be able to see Dr. Abraham’s presentation. It is a service to their intelligence.

I offer my unreserved support for Prof. Abraham. The man deserves a medal for his sober and scientifically sound approach to exposing the numerous fallacies in Moncton’s claims regarding climate change.

Raymond T. Pierrehumbert
Department of the Geophysical Sciences
The University of Chicago

I have watched and listened to Prof. Abraham’s presentation, and am frankly shocked that Lord Monckton would misrepresent it as in any way unprofessional. It eschewed empty rhetoric, hewed closely to the scientific matter in question using careful and objective language, and cited the literature extensively in support of the points made.

In my view, it was an admirable production in the best traditions of academic discourse intended for a popular audience–albeit in a distinctly modern format.

I urge the authorities at St. Thomas to uncategorically reject Monckton’s attempt to intimidate Prof. Abraham as a gross attack on academic freedom–and one, moreover, not founded on fact.

I’m Marcus from Adelaide, South Australia, & I wholeheartedly support Professor John Abraham-& am utterly appalled at the gutter tactics used by Monckton & his camp followers to try & shut down reasonable debate on this topic.

I support science and academic freedom, and strongly urge the University to not only support Professor Abraham, but to make it clear to one and all that Christopher Walter Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley is the sad but inevitable result of inbreeding amongst the upper classes.

Congrats to Prof Abraham for his detailed take-down of Monkton’s inane blather. This buffoon has made many similar threats in the past with nothing to show fro them. St Thomas need to come out and unreservedly support Prof Abraham for his fine piece of work.

I “support” John Abraham (the very idea is a farce though -truly, we live in Inquisitorial times more reminiscent of Lysenkoism than of McCarthyism when a small, accurate powerpoint is being made a legal issue by an insane reactionary royalist and anyone has to concern themselves with it).

Marion D late of UO and before that, UAF, including the West Ridge from whence sprang denialists like Akasofu and Kramm.

Thank you John Abraham for taking the time to investigate the claims made by climate denier C. Monckton and putting together a point by point analysis of his talk. Mr. Abraham’s clear headed science based techniques are really appreciated.

Your presentation used science with calmness. It’s sad that the retaliation uses vitriol and no science but that’s probably the only course they had available to these frauds. The manner of their retaliation is also very illustrative.

I found John Abraham’s analysis of science that was mis-interpreted and mis-represented by The Visount Monckton of Brenchley in his public presentations and internet publications to be very helpful. I support the decision and the resolve to continue making this analysis available to help counteract further mis-representations of the science.

I support John Abraham. I also agree with him, but even if I did not Monckton’s actions would remain outrageous. The decision to block opposing views by censorship and witch-hunt is ethically and philosophically bankrupt; the need to do so suggests intellectual bankruptcy as well.
How ironic that these people go around claiming that their opponents are indulging in coverups, but need to cover it up when their claims are debunked.

I offer my unreserved support for Professor Abraham and St. Thomas University. His insightful demonstration of how ludicrous are Christopher Monckton and his supposed expertise on the topic of climate change was a masterpiece. That he and the University should find themselves under attack from a hoard of bullies, hell-bent on stifling the true science is utterly unacceptable. Monckton’s tactics would be laughable if they were not so spiteful and designed to wreak as much inconvenience for the University as possible.
Adrian Grimes PhD

I fully support Professor John Abraham and the St. Thomas University. Professor Abraham’s presentation debunking Chritopher Moncktons many distortions and misrepresentations of science was, in this layperson’s mind, clear, succint and sober. Please do not give in to the reprehensible bullying, harassment and intimidation initiated by the Viscount Monckton of Brenchley.

I support St Thomas University and Professor Abraham in their resistance to Christopher Monckton’s attempted bullying. I also support Professor Abraham’s actions in testing public statements made by Christopher Monckton, especially those which purport to summarise the findings of peer reviewed scientific papers. Professor Abraham’s presentation (both versions) is a public service. Keeping it available to the interested public does credit to the professor and to the university.

I support John Abraham, totally. Good science will save us – if our minds are not clouded by spite and stupidity – not the courts. Censorship is the last resort of the wrong. And wrongness ignored can lead to disaster.

I support Dr. John Abraham and open discussion on University-owned resources. I can think of no better place to exercise this kind of discussion than in an academic setting. Lawsuits aimed to squelch dissemination of Dr. Abraham’s presentation would be a frivolous waste of court resources and should be subject to sanction.

I wholeheartedly support John Abraham and approve of his thorough debunking of Christopher Moncktonâ€™s lecture. The boorish, anti-democratic and anti-intellectual behaviour of Monckton and the denialist echo chamber must be resisted.

To whom it may concern, I recommend that Dr John Abraham be fully supported by the university in the face of these attacks by the Climate Sceptic movement, at this critical junction it is vitally important that the truth be paramount

I fully support John Abraham and his brilliant presentation. It is clear that Christopher Monckton is desperate and has to resort to bullying and intimidation. I’m glad people are finally seeing Mr. Monckton for what he really is, a charlatan peddling pseudo-science.

I fully support John Abraham and urge St. Thomas University to ignore the unfounded rants of climate change denier Monckton. Dr Abraham has done a great service to the world by going to the source of Monckton’s claims to show how he mistakenly or purposefully misread the scientific record in an attempt to score a political point. I support the inquiry of Dr Abraham and urge you to not be cowed by this attack by Monckton.

Dr. Abraham’s work critiques the presentation made by Christopher Monckton. Both are readily available for viewing, and I encourage the folks at St. Thomas to view both for themselves to see who is misrepresenting the facts. Dr. Abraham’s should be commended and fully supported for his work in exposing the bald-faced inaccuracies and misrepresentations in Monckton’s presentation.

I fully support John Abraham’s actions. Criticism and fact-checking should never be punished, especially in the scientific community. Global warming is a highly politicized issue-as such, it has been inundated with a loud minority, quoting lies as if they were facts. Dr. Abraham is a force for good, differentiating the truth from the lies.

I support John Abraham and the St. Thomas University in the essence of free speech and promoting healthy discourse. Unfortunately facts are seemingly fluid these days. But here in lies the difference between ‘warmers’ and ‘skeptics’, one side can stand critical scrutiny and encourages rational debate of the facts, the other pretends it does then sues.

I fully support John Abraham and his debunking of Lord Monckton’s speech. The attacks on real science must stop.
Nick Zigler
Masters Student, Environmental Science
University of California, Santa Barbara

Unable to offer a meaningful rebuttal, Monckton is forced to resort to the unfortunately all too common calls for censorship, this “attack the messenger” mentality, we’ve seen repeatedly from denialists and cranks. St. Thomas University would be doing a great disservice to John Abraham, his work, and evidence-based research itself if they reward such egregious bullying (and poor research) with anything more than a moments consideration before immediately dismissing it as nonsense. I fully support John Abraham and his professional, evidence-based response to Moncktonâ€™s presentation.

John Abraham has provided an excellent slide-by-slide analysis of the presentation by Lord Christopher Monckton in which Monckton casts doubt upon current scientific explanations of global climate change. I plan to make use of Dr. Abraham’s analysis in my own teaching and research not only for his demonstration of our current understanding of the climate but also for his analysis of the proper use of scientific information for public policy.
Donald Thieme, Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences, Valdosta State University

I fully support Prof. Abraham and his wonderful, fact-based presentation debunking Christopher Monckton’s distortions of climate science. St. Thomas University provides an important service by hosting Prof. Arbraham’s presentation, as it sheds important light on how climate denialists deceive their audiences with sleight of hand, selective omission of key facts, and repetition of untruths about the professional literature most audience members would find difficult or impossible to verify on their own.

I fully support and applaud Professor Abraham for his efforts to hold writers and journalists accountable for accurate reporting in general, as well as specifically in the case of climate science where disinformation has proven to be especially harmful.

Professor Abraham provided an important public service by showing in detail Moncktonâ€™s misrepresentation of the science of climate, and I applaud him for that effort, and St. Thomas University for making his presentation available to the world. I fully support John Abraham and hope that the University of St. Thomas gives him its full support too.

John Abraham accurately and systematically assesses the publicly expressed views of “Lord” Monckton who regularly misrepresents the science.

Monckton denies that global warming is taking place, the heat content of the ocean is rising, that human emissions of carbon dioxide are responsible for it, or for that matter that global warming will be bad for us. And he slanders the vast majority of scientists who publish in the peer reviewed journals on climatology for saying otherwise, and even promotes the idea of some sort of grand conspiracy on the part of climate scientific community.

With Monckton’s claims to be developing a drug to cure multiple sclerosis, Grave’s disease, HIV and influenza, given the that he has no background in medicine, in an earlier age he would simply be considered a dangerous quack. But in our age the climate change denial movement has made Monckton something of a celebrity, applauding him for the very same statements that earn him Abraham’s criticism.

If anything John Abraham deserves several medals for valor and service.

Whilst John’s original rebuttal was excellent, the tone of responses to Monckton’s pathetic attempt at bluster and bullying is simply glorious. I’m no academic, but you have my wholehearted support in showing up this rather sad and pathetic but nevertheless sadly influential fantasist.

Monckton is an idiot who has done nothing right in his entire life but inherit privilege. Sensenbrenner is a TRAITOR for inviting such a known propagandist liar to the House Committee on Global Warming to testify as an “expert” — on climate science or anything else. Monckton’s only motive in the public debate on climate science is to preserve the inherited privilege he never earned. His arrogant, dishonest buffoonery exemplifies the very worst of what the United States defeated and supposedly rejected in the War For Independence, but modern Republicans revealingly make common cause with that farcical embodiment of the utter failure of caste systems. Given the opportunity to address the U.S. Congress, he repeats the debunked work of cherry-picking, Lindzen-Choi 2009.

I viewed Abraham’s talk with interest. He has done a very measured and objective job of debunking Monckton’s nonsense. He should be rewarded for this pro bono service to the public, rather than threatened with censure.

Lord Ha Ha has lied to Congress about being a member of the British Government, pretends to be a member of British Parliment, and spreads even more penicious and dangerous lies about the state of the planet’s atmosphere.

John Abraham has offered the best and soundest rebuttal of Monckton’s nonsense, doing a favor to the world of education and the world in general. His actions are worthy of reward, not punishment…

I am in full support of the above statement regarding John Abraham. Monckton and those like him are a threat to rational discourse, the promotion of science [the benefits of which he might hypocritically enjoy] and properly informing the public.

St. Thomas University deserves our support for doing exactly what a university should–promoting scholarly debate. Kudos to Dr. Abraham for his work and to Father Dease for providing a forum for the work to appear.

John Abraham has provided a great community service by professionally and scientifically reviewing Christopher Monckton’s presentation, and remaining professional and science-focussed in the face of personal attacks and intimidation by Lord Monckton. It is vital that scientifically robust reviews on climate topics like that of Abraham are seen against the misinformation and unscientific nonsense of those such as Monckton. I applaud St Thomas University for supporting John Abraham, and standing up for real science and appropriate scientific discourse.

I whole heartedly support Professor Abraham. He has demonstrated the true way of conducting science. He examined the claims and tested them. He looked for the evidence and found that Lord Monckton was playing fast and loose with the facts and often mischaracterized those few sources that he did site. It is high time that Lord Monckton’s motives/agenda are exposed.

I fully support John Abraham and am extremely disappointed (though, at this point, hardly surprised) at Christopher Monckton’s continued attempts to silence those who oppose his views rather than engaging with them.

Lucy Stewart, graduate student in microbiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Off Topic, but the measured variation in solar output during a solar cycle is 0.1%, that is 1,6 W/m2 on the surface of the planet, and the magnetic anomalies of Earth measured from igneous rocks from the ocean bottom do not correlate with the ice core record used to determine the climate of the glacial periods. Observed variation in summer temperatures exceeds this solar effect and is best explained by El Ninos and GHGs. Support for the university for keeping the tested and tried, scientifically best explanation of the observed rise in global temperatures in public and in curriculum, unlike Maonkton would obviously want.

Monckton is clearly a charlaton. One minute he claims the earth is cooling. Then, he claims something other than greenhouse gases is causing the warming. He also wants us to believe that global warming will be beneficial. Or is it cooling? He can’t seem to make up his mind. He’s a discrace. I support Professor John Abraham.

Monckton’s only contribution to the climate debate is as a laughing stock. He thinks in a page of math he can derive a figure for the effect of a doubling of COâ‚‚ in the atmosphere. If it were that easy to prove then there wouldn’t be the argument in the first place. And his comparison of young greens to the “Hitler Youth” is particularly vile – as shown during the not one, but two episodes dedicated to him on Crock of the Week

“I say chaps, the aristocracy needs to have a wee chat to Monckton. He really could bring discredit on them, and on the British Empire. Simply not cricket chaps – all this tomfoolery he talks. What? There isn’t much of an empire anymore? Oh – so he is as important as…. as… Bishop Rock? One of you chaps really should tell him that. He’s making such a frightful ass of himself.”

I support John Abraham in his attempts to examine the detail of Monckton’s presentations. It is vital that interpretations of published science are reliable … and this is the thrust of Abraham’s critique. The next step should be for a “point-by-point” examination in order to determine whether the published science has been correctly presented by Monckton.

In my view, Monckton’s response to Abraham’s critique fails to focus on the points raised by Abraham in any effective manner … rather it appears to obsufscate and disparage.

John Abrahams (and St. Thomas University) has my full support – we need more people like John who are prepared to expose the highly organised disinformation campaign against the science of climate change that is being led by people like Monckton.

Monckton is misleads his audiences into believing he is a British peer and a scientist. He is neither. It is then unsurprising that he intentionally or psychotically misleads his audiences as to the current state of climate science. If someone at St. Thomas can give Monckton’s trusting audiences an opportunity to see through this smokescreen, that someone should be rewarded.

I fully support (and admire) Prof. John Abraham for illustrating to the public how Monckton have misrepresented the science of climate. I also support St. Thomas University for making Abraham’s presentation available to the world.

I fully support Professor John Abraham’s comments on the recent statements made by Christopher Monckton and would ask his university to respect his work and to ignore the irrelevant interference in the academic role.

I have just finished John Abraham’s presentation and find it a well reasoned piece, which seemed not ‘calculated to cause damage’, rather to present facts as they stand. Surely the truth is best served by open public discourse, and if one’s argument is found wanting then to concede such is more noble than to obfuscate, threaten or attempt to censor. I would like to extend my humble support to Prof Abraham’s sterling efforts against disinformation.

I find prof.Abrahams restrained and polite but very clear and devastating treatment of Moncktons un-scientific ramblings to be in the very best of scholarly traditions and extremely useful for a balanced view on these serious matters. Thanks and keep up the good work!

I wish to add my name to the list of people writing in support of John Abraham, and St. Thomas University, in light of the complaints made against the professor and his institution by Christopher Monckton.

I found John Abraham’s original piece to be calmly and factually presented, and that it clearly showed many of the misrepresentations and distortions of data that were represented by Monckton’s work.

I did not note any ‘personal’ attacks upon Christopher Monckton in the piece, nor did I note anything that could be remotely construed as libelous, malicious or malevolent.

Please note that as far as I can determine Christopher Monckton is not a scientist, has no scientific qualification, and is not a member of any recognised faculty, scientific or otherwise. Thus his claims about ‘unprofessional’ conduct and appeals to ‘academe’ are spurious to say the least.

I fully support Professor John Abraham and his very well presented and professional critique of Christopher Monckton’s claims about climate change. I hope that St. Thomas University understands that the work of dedicated scientists such as John Abraham is vitally important to not only every single person on this planet, but to the countless generations to come.

John Abraham should be commended for taking the time and initiative to address Monckton’s cherry-picking and misrepresentation of data. Monckton’s misinformation campaign is outrageously unethical and deleterious to the planet. Confusing the public is just wrong. Dr Abraham composed a very professional rebuttal. I wholeheartedly approve.

Professor John Abraham has provided a well reasoned, rational critique of what I consider to be Christopher Monckton’s poorly reasoned and manipulative talk on climate change. I fully support Professor Abraham and commend him for the extensive research he has done. I would see any attempt to censure him as irrational, unscientific and an ill conceived response to political pressure.

I wish to apologize to all the American people for sending this idiot (Monckton) over the pond from my country and fully support John Abraham in his work. Please don’t send Mr Monckton back-you can have him for free!

Hi,
I fully support John Abraham’s work. I enjoyed his presentation, and applaud his professionalism and ability to stick to the science, and the facts, and to use the scientific approach to this subject.
I’m also slightly horrified at the level of criticism that has been directed towards John Abraham and his work. I’d like to think that this is symptomatic of the last death throes of the denialist movement.
Regards,
Ewan Briggs
(MEng)

I fully support Prof John Abraham and would like to thank him for all his time and effort to help with the vital fight against Monkton’s madness. It saddens me that it is necessary in this day and age to defend against Monkton’s ridiculous claims but without people like Prof Abraham he would get away with even more!

A very clear debunking that deserves to be heard widely. Total support for John Abraham. One must have some sympathy for Monckton as his acknowledged illness has the potential to affect his judgment, as explained by another affected person:http://gravesdiseasetimbennie.com/

“One must have some sympathy for Monckton as his acknowledged illness has the potential to affect his judgment, ”

Maybe. The real world is poorly matched by the legal view that either a person is responsible for their actions of they are not (and thus subject to
guardianship, incarceration etc). The real culpability lies with those
who encourage Monckton and his ilk by funding their message and media that treat his crackpot ideas as a meaningful contribution to understanding climate change.

I fully support John Abraham’s work, and reject the spurious criticism leveled against him by Christopher Monckton. Abraham’s evisceration of Monckton’s incorrect arguments are in the finest tradition of academia. If civilly pointing out these egregious errors has damaged Monckton’s scientific reputation, such as it is, that is part of the natural process of science. It is indeed only by robust and open debate that science can proceed. At every point, John Abraham has acted to promote an open and professional scientific dialogue.

I cannot express my support for Prof Abraham better than in these words of a previous poster:
“I fully support Professor John Abraham and his very well presented and professional critique of Christopher Moncktonâ€™s claims about climate change. I hope that St. Thomas University understands that the work of dedicated scientists such as John Abraham is vitally important to not only every single person on this planet, but to the countless generations to come.”

I cannot express my support for Prof Abraham better than in these words of previous poster Lisa Geoffrion:
“I fully support Professor John Abraham and his very well presented and professional critique of Christopher Moncktonâ€™s claims about climate change. I hope that St. Thomas University understands that the work of dedicated scientists such as John Abraham is vitally important to not only every single person on this planet, but to the countless generations to come.”

I write in support of John Abraham, and in support of reason and open debate generally. I find Mr. Monckton’s attempt to bully both Dr. Abraham and the university horrifying, and his harassment needs to be faced down. Good for St. Thomas for its strong stand against this.

My thanks to John Abraham. We should not let the voices of ignorance get us down. Great to see this page set up as it pains me to see climate scientists under such personal criticism when they are only trying to be objective.
I have been whtching the science for some years now and am thoroughly convinced of AGW by the quality of the work and by the corroboration from many different branchs of endeavour. It is critical that we respond to this callenge and do so without delay. Once again, great work John Abraham.

I too support Professor John Abraham and his clear, concise rebuttal of Christopher Monckton’s claims against global warming. I appreciate the University of St Thomas not caving in to Monckton’s attempted bullying.

I just want to add my support for real science and express my opposition to unreal science that debunkers represent. The past months of summer in the northern hemisphere represent a record setting heat-wave, just as the past few years represent a scary trend towards hotter weather.

Even if this trend wasn’t directly caused by human action, and I believe it is, we may be able to lessen the trend by changing human activity, and we had better start post haste.

Thank you Professor Abraham for your fine presentation illustrating the duplicitous nature of Moncktons activities regarding global warning. It is heartening to witness your firm stand in the face of intimidation from an odious bully. Thanks also St Thomas university for your solid support.

As a scientist, I am very excited that John Abraham has taken time out of his busy research career and exposed the charlatan Monckton. It is a difficult thing to balance our teaching and research activities while simultaneously finding enough time to both sleep and publicly denounce ignorance. Keep it up Dr. Abraham.

I fully support John Abraham’s response to Monckton’s work (using the term extremely loosely) and suggest that if Monckton has a problem with Professor Abraham’s response, he should attempt to rebut it with facts instead of trying to intimidate a university. But then, facts aren’t really Monckton’s thing, are they?

The response to the presentation that Christopher Monckton gave at Bethel University should be a reasoned, science-based analysis of Monckton’s sources and his use/interpretation of them. This Professor Abraham has provided. With the ball in his court, Mr. Monckton has decided against replying in kind and has instead has resorted to accusations of libel and calls for censorship. By doing this he has not only failed to make his factual case, he has also destroyed any credibility he may have had. I applaud and support the approach taken by Professor Abraham and am convinced by his factual and fully attributed arguments.

As a fellow University professor, I can just echo Lisa Geoffrion’s statement:
â€œI fully support Professor John Abraham and his very well presented and professional critique of Christopher Moncktonâ€™s claims about climate change. I hope that St. Thomas University understands that the work of dedicated scientists such as John Abraham is vitally important to not only every single person on this planet, but to the countless generations to come.â€
I would like to add that mr. Moncton’s actions to pressure professor Abramson and STU (both through threat of legal action and e-mail campaigns) are nothing but bullying and an indirect admission of defeat in an intellectual debate.

I’ve watched John Abraham’s video, and was impressed with how reasonable and persuasive it is in concentrating on the arguments and avoiding personal attacks on Lord Monckton. St. Thomas University is to be commended, and supported in its resistance to intimidation.

I attended the Monckton Circus event in Brisbane earlier this year and believe me his presentation is very convincing, especially to the scientific illiterati, but this is mainly because monckton cherry-picks the scientific data. I was staggered when he received a standing ovation from the industry and business executives who then queued up to have their photo taken with him. (sigh) I think they were perhaps more besotted with his peerage than his scientific credentials.
John Abraham is to be commended for his efforts in refuting Moncktonâ€™s arguments. I can only marvel at his tenacity.

I fully support John Abraham. It is long past the time that the professionals be properly appriciated for the debunking of idiocy and lunacy. Such praise is not given often enough and far too much attention is given to the denialists and lunatics.

Monckton plainly is incapable to taking criticism of any kind, and his only response to it is to demand discipline…for the crime of disagreeing apparently. Like so many of his fellows…moon landing deniers, Young Earth Creationists, and so on…their first reponse to strong resistance is to cry foul and try to smear their critics. He and his ilk need to be given a (metaphorical) public bating more often.

I fully support John Abraham, St Thomas University, in his very fair and scientifically scholarly refutation of the climate denying presentation given by Christopher Monckton in Minnesota in the Fall of 2009. I urge the administration of St. Thomas not to cave under the assault of protesters to this refutation, or Monckton, and his financial and legal helpers, who have unleashed them.

Once again, the climate deniers would run from debate rather than rebut the substance of the argument. If Monckton succeeds in purging a University website of legitimate criticism it will be a tremendous blow against free academic inquiry and rational discussion.

I fully support John Abraham in his efforts to expose and correct all the misleading drivel being spouted by Monckton and his acolytes. I urge St. Thomas University to stand behind Prof. Abraham and defend his academic freedom and the integrity of the scientific process. Science cannot be derailed by pundits and self-appointed experts with zero understanding of complex scientific issues.

Dr. Abraham has my full support for his efforts. Exposing lies is not a crime and his university should also stand next to him in this science vs. faith (faith in the notion that all is good with the environment) battle.

I offer unreserved support for John Abraham and St. Thomas University in the matter of complaints made to them by Christopher Monckton. Professor Abraham provided an important public service by showing in detail Moncktonâ€™s misrepresentation of the science of climate, and I applaud him for that effort, and St. Thomas University for making his presentation available to the world.
Graeme Henderson

I hope and trust that St. Thomas University ignore the bullying tactics employed by Lord Monckton. Such attacks on academic freedom should not just be ignored: I would argue that St. Thomas University should issue a public statement of rebuke to Lord Monckton for attempting to stifle academic debate in this underhand way.

Far from instigating a disciplinary inquiry into John Abraham’s presentation, the University of St Thomas should be proud to host such an excellent example of reasoned scientific thinking and argument. The information is presented with clarity, is well-supported by sources, and treats Lord Monckton with respect, three qualities notably absent from the rhetoric of climate change denial.

As a fellow University academic, I would like to echo Lisa Geoffrionâ€™s and Kennneth Camargo’s statements of support for Professor John Abraham and his very well presented and professional critique of Christopher Moncktonâ€™s claims about climate change.
I also unreservedly commend St. Thomas University for its courageous and robust support of Professor Thomas and academic freedom. In so clearly refusing to submit to blatant attempts to use academic bullying to stifle scientific debate STU has set an example many larger institutions would do well to follow.

Rod Gibson
School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics
University of Dundee
Scotland

I unreservedly support John Abraham and St. Thomas University in the matter of complaints made to them by Mr. Christopher Walter Monckton (since he is an hereditary peer, his title does not derive from merit so I opt to ignore it).

Professor Abraham provided an important public service by showing in detail Moncktonâ€™s misrepresentation of numerous aspects of the science of climate and climate change, and I applaud him for that effort, and St. Thomas University for making his presentation available to the world.

Christopher Monckton, on the other hand, deserves nothing more than disdain, or perhaps pity, for his failed attempt to intimidate Professor Abraham and St. Thomas University.

I add my support to Professor Abraham against the bullying tactics of Lord Monckton and his supporters.

My personal comments on the debate: Various of Monckton’s supporters have objected to the term “climate change denier” which they equate to “holocaust denier” and claim that this therefore trivialises the crimes of Hitler against humanity (not that this has the slightest bearing on the vaildity of the science, of course.)
As it happens, I am not convinced about AGW. However, if the concerns of the majority of climate scientists are even moderately “true”, then to await the sort of proof that would satisfy Monckton and other deniers (though I doubt that Any degree of proof would convince many of them) before taking action would be catastrophic, and the deaths that would result would indeed make the number of deaths in the horror that was the holocaust appear trivial in comparison.
I say this not to trivialise the holocaust, but to remind of the stakes involved. But I could stretch the analogy further by suggesting that most of the perpetrators of the holocaust were not intrinsically evil, but were taking the easy course in difficult times. Only a few had the courage of Albert Speer to admit their culpability for events which were not of their direct bidding.
I genuinely am undecided over the “truth” of AGW, I do not believe that sufficient evidence yet exists to make that choice for certain. Yet, in assessing who suggests the most appropriate action based on current knowledge, it is certainly not Monckton and his “Gag and Bully” brigade.

Lord Monckton is at once the most absurd and frustrating of characters.

It is virtually impossible to argue against – let alone reason with – someone as tenaciously dishonest as Monckton. The mind-numbing falsities and shameless hypocrisy of his endless tirade are truly astounding. Of course, he has invested far too much of himself in this matter to back down now. Better to cling defiantly to a burning ship, than to acknowledge the humiliation of defeat.

I absolutely support John Abraham and St Thomas University in this matter.

I am not a climatologist, but I am a working microbiologist (Ph.D.) and so understand the importance of open and informed debate on scientific matters. I fully support John Abraham and his university in their effort to establish the discussion on firm and validated technical data. I have nothing but disdain for the bullying tactics of Mr. Monckton and his supporters who demand to be heard but then try to stifle those to seek the same right. Finally, to use the well worn phrase, Mr. Monckton has a right to his own opinions, but not to his own facts.

I offer unreserved support for John Abraham and St. Thomas University in the matter of complaints made to them by Christopher Monckton. Professor Abraham provided an important public service by showing in detail Moncktonâ€™s misrepresentation of the science of climate, and I applaud him for that effort, and St. Thomas University for making his presentation available to the world.
John

clearly the argument has been won. going up against the fossil fuel industry takes more than intelect and bravery unfortunately. now we enter the realm of psycology of the masses. leveraging moncktons spectactlar failure will not happen via the mass media if not little by little, blog by blog at person to person level. people, get spreading the word!

I’m a layman (another kind of engineer, acutally), but I do know that good ideas do not need to be lied about to be persuasive, and that supportable ideas are seldom defended by the types of attacks that Christopher Monckton has launched.

The only response to bad science is more science. One of the parties in this dust-up understands this.

lao tseo once said elegant words are not sincere, sincere words are not elegant, another wise old chinaman once said you can only piss with the cock that youve got. credit where its due, lord monckton spins a good yarn!

My family and I fully support Professor John Abraham and all his magnificent work he does….he really IS a HERO!!!! ..
HEARTFELT THANKS to Prof Abraham for caring so much about saving this wonderful planet of ours from our own stupidity!!…
As far as Monckton is concerned……who exactly IS he again???????Blah!!!!
BRAVO St Thomas University for standing by your man, and what a man he is!!!

Much as I would prefer that we could ignore Monckton and those like him, failing to challenge them tends to lend support to their dangerously irresponsible campaign to discredit good science and honest scientists. It’s Mainstream news services that should be the ones doing the ignoring; their favoring of controversy over truth is far more irresponsible than Monckton. Given what’s at stake, giving airtime and space to his absurd and scientifically unsupportable opinions and presenting them as factual and relevant is not much better than supporting a form of terrorism against our most important institutions.

I attended a presentation by Monckton in Noosa, Queensland at the end of January this year and was stunned by the shear audacity and viciousness of his lies and the uncritical acceptance with which they were received by his audience, largely made up of self-funded retirees. He played shamelessly to their understandable resentment at the prospect of environmental belt tightening in their twilight years – no matter that their baby boomer lifestyles of profligate consumerism had helped to create the problem in the first place.
I resolved to devote some of my free time in retirement to an investigation of the deniers, including Monkcton and his travelling companion in Australia, Professor Ian Plimer (Heaven and Earth). I am booked to begin a series of rebuttal lectures commencing next month. With any luck I’ll be hearing from Monckton myself. Bring it on!

John Abraham provided a real public service with his rebuttal of some of Monckton’s wooly thinking and spin. His University also did their part in standing up to the silly intimidation tactics from cranky blog fans incited by Monckton against them. Good on John and U of St. T.

I fully support John Abraham in his efforts to counter dangerous, self-appointed ‘geniuses’ like Chris Monckton.
It’s frustrating that precious time is being lost in the effort to limit climate change by having to debunk quasi-scientific rubbish, but unless it is done we run the risk of lazy, unthinking people being swayed by this deliberately misleading, cherry-picked ‘evidence’. As Monckton is obviously aware, the best lies are those with a speck of truth in them; we need people like Dr Abraham to show them that it’s only the whole truth that matters.
Keep up the good work!

@Please Get Real:
No one wants to censor that evidence… if you were genuinely interested in knowing the whole story, as opposed to the flashy bits that suit your already-made-up mind, then you’d actually listen to John Abraham’s lecture.
In it he shows that the very same graph you link to is only a tiny bit of the story… as you can see from the graph, it only covers the last eight years or so. When you use the rest of the existing data set, there is a very clear trend over a much, much longer time period showing that there is indeed a steady decline in ice levels.
You people need to stop thinking that there is some sort of conspiracy to censor your ‘brilliant’ viewpoint and realize that the people who are disagreeing with you are the ones who have actually bothered to take the time to study the relevant sciences… just having an interest in the area doesn’t make you a champion for the ‘normal’ guy against the hordes of ‘arrogant’ scientists that make you feel insecure.
You can’t delete the facts either, but it appears you’re pretty good at ignoring them when it suits you.

A few of the posts here seem a bit confused and seem to be saying that Monckton is trying to shut down scientific debate about climate change. This is not true. Apart from the time that people like John and myself put into this, climate science debates are unaffected by the antics of Monckton or Plimer. As just a sample of current debates: (a) is the airborne fraction of CO2 decreasing? (and decreasing more than expected)?, (b) is the southern ocean taking up less CO2?; (c) is Jim Hansen’s 0.5 degree range around a climate sensitivity of 3 degrees more precise than is justified?; (d) are the 1400 to 1500 year Dansgaard Oeschger cycle in glacial times really periodic? In my view all these are debates in current scientific literature (although some on each side may claim they are pretty much settled).

What Monckton is trying to do is shut down communication to the public of the science that is well established. It is part of an anti-intellectual exercise to discredit science as a whole. The recent book, Merchants of Doubt, by Oreskes and Conway spells out how the same tactics have been used (often by the same people) over tobacco, ozone and starwars. My own analysis of Plimer’s book:http://www.complex.org.au/tiki-download_file.php?fileId=91
shows the degree of fabrication involved in these efforts to mislead the public.

For anyone who wants to see what an overall debate on climate science looks like, try the book “Pole Apart by Gareth Morgan and John McCrystal. They pulled together panels for both sides, hit them with questions over 18 months and then wrote the book. Unsurprisingly I don’t agree with everything they say, but it’s an important book for anyone who cares about the truth.

I fully concur with Garath. I watched the debate between Christopher Monckten (Lord) and Dr Tim Lambert (UNSW) in Sydney. The moderator decided not to take a call on who won the debate. It was clear to me that Tim Lambert won on the grounds of logic and data. Professor Quiggin (UQL) debunked Monckton’s conspiracy theory in a few lines. I viewed Professor Abrahamâ€™s presentation. The patience shown by Professor Abraham is impressive. Academics are more or less forced to debunk Moncktonâ€™s verbal output again and again. This is very wasteful of resources.

‘Lord’ Monckton = the Pied Piper of the dim-witted, leading brain-washed rats into the rising ocean since the late 90’s…Can someone buy this guy a flight to Malawi to speak to the farmers, who left their farms because of drought and flooding, who are now working in the city, and whose wives have turned to prostitution in the rural areas.

I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to Prof. Abraham for performing this important public service. I’d also like to emphasise that it really is a public service: Prof. Abraham is unlikely to gain anything personally (aside from gratitude) by taking on this task, must dedicate his own personal time to the project, and simultaneously risks being targeted by people (such as Monckton) who are both influential and as far as I can tell, immoral. He has my respect and admiration.

Mark asserts that Abraham’s rebuttal is riddled with errors, and that he has mis-represented Monckton. This might well be true, Abraham does make a few mistakes that I’ve detected.(I wonder if Mark was clever enough to detect real errors, not those funny red fish that Monckton spread across the path). Were that claim legitimate we could simply say “One all draw”. However Mark does not balance his remarks by admitting to his hero’s own mistakes, like when he deliberately misrepresents the facts in relation to Al Gore’s condominium purchase in San Francisco. This is absurdly easy to check – Google Earth it, the St Regis is 1.2km from the water, and 7 m above mean sea level! There is no chance that it will get wet this century, even on the most ambitious global warming timetable. Indeed it will become a waterfront property worth many more millions! But by the time that happens, poor old Al will be 150 years old and unlikely to see the benefit of it. Monckton, Mark is a joke, thank God we have the wit to know it.

I appreciate John Abraham’s work in debunking Monckton’s claims. I’ve attempted similar things to a lesser extent in online discussions, and it takes a surprisingly big amount of effort: it’s easy to spew lies, much harder to go to the original sources and debunk them with proper references.

Mark’s post claims that John Abraham’s rebuttal is riddled with errors. Let’s see the list. There are plenty of denialist sites to ready to host such a list. Mark, post your claims and send us the link.

I offer unreserved support for John Abraham and St. Thomas University in the matter of complaints made to them by Christopher Monckton. Professor Abraham provided an important public service by showing in detail Moncktonâ€™s misrepresentation of the science of climate, and I applaud him for that effort, and St. Thomas University for making his presentation available to the world.
Andrew Davison CEng MIChemE

“Magnificently bonkers” polemicists may be fun to watch, but genuine, solid science is far more useful to the human race. And censoring serious scientific critiques of said bonkers polemics is a really bad idea.

It’s boring work rebutting loony science deniers. We all thank John Abraham and support him for doing it. It is extraordinary that anyone could even dream of censoring science, this is like a nightmare return to the superstitions of the middle ages.

I strongly support the work of John Abraham in revealing the misinformation spread by Christopher Monckton.

I took an opportunity to attend a presentation by Monckton earlier this year in Canberra, Australia. What a snake oil salesman. At one point, after he had just espoused lower food prices, the farmers who had paid for him to speak all gave him a standing ovation. Amazing!

Dr. Abraham provided a great service to science by his detailed and careful rebuttal to the misinformation which Lord Monckton continually disseminates. To allow Monckton to continue to bully those who have the courage to challenge his corruption of scientific process would be a travesty. Dr. Abraham has my unreserved support in his endeavors to improve public information regarding climate change.

“Lord” Monckton is a plausible fraud with considerable talent as a presenter of pseudoscience. He has no relevant scientific qualifications. He is a right wing journalist who appears to obtain his income substantially from US corporations with financial and political interests in the suppression of climate science. He has falsely asserted that he is a Nobel Laureate.

Dr Abraham’s painstaking and meticulous work in exposing Monckton’s deceitful presentations is in the best traditions of science.

And in the unlikely event that Dr Abrahams ever requires any legal assistance in this part of the world in connection with Monckton’s disingenuous threats of litigation, he will find that there are experienced litigators who relish the exposure of scientific fraudsters like Monckton and who are willing and able to provide pro bono services.